This year, Japanese magazine Famitsu has awarded a perfect 40/40 score to four games: Dragon Quest IX, Monster Hunter 3, Bayonetta and New Super Mario Bros. Years-in-the-making and eagerly-anticipated Final Fantasy XIII did not.

Famitsu has four reviewers rate games on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best for a cumulative 40/40 score. Famitsu praised the game's cut scenes as well as the battle system and the high level of strategy it offers. Interestingly, one Famitsu reviewer noted how up until the mid-way point of the game, the story seemed be linear and that it didn't offer any new "gimmicks" in its story telling.